1240 History

This is station history post number 20 in the Knoxville Radio History blog and this one focuses on AM 1240 which once was home to WBIR-AM 1240.

1240 History

On January 21, 1941, 1240 signed on as WBIR-AM. Throughout the first few years, WBIR aired various programs including Doc Johnston's morning program where he would play the piano. The program was also simulcasted on WBIR-FM 103.5 (now WIMZ-FM 103.5). In the mid to late 1970s, WBIR aired an all-news format as "All News 124" where it aired NBC's short-lived all-news format known as "The NBC News and Information Service".

In 1980, Stoner Broadcasting bought the station and changed it to WHEL-AM with an adult standards format known as "The Wheel". In 1982, WHEL-AM changed formats from standards to a simulcast of WIMZ-FM 103.5's rock format and the calls were changed from WHEL-AM to WIMZ-AM. For the first few years, WIMZ-AM would simulcast WIMZ-FM in the morning and afternoon drive. The midday and evening hours would be automated AOR. In the mid 1980s, WIMZ-FM would be simulcasted entirely. The WIMZ-AM calls would last for 8 years.

WIMZ-AM 1240 changed formats from a WIMZ-FM 103.5 simulcast to a rhythmic CHR format that was short-lived. On May 10, 1993, the calls were changed from WIMZ-AM to WEZK-AM and started a simulcast of WEZK-FM's AC format. The calls were changed to WZEZ on April 28, 1994 and the WEZK-AM calls were brought back on September 24, 1994.

On December 7, 1995, the calls were changed back to WIMZ-AM and began airing programming from ESPN Radio. In 1996, they became "The Team 1240" and continued the sports format. A simulcast at 95.7 in Maryville/Knoxville was added in 2000.

The sports format on AM 1240 and 95.7 FM continued until 2002 when AM 1240 changed calls to WJXB-AM and carried 24-hour news from the cable network CNN Headline News as "CNN 1240". A few years later, WJXB-AM became WIFA-AM with a religions music/talk format known as "Faith 1240".